Members of various students’ unions of DAV (PG) College and DBS (PG) College protested under the banner of College Bachao Sangharsh Samiti at the campuses of their respective colleges and opposed college management’s decision on sending proposal for the formation of new university comprising cluster of colleges including DAV (PG) College, DBS (PG) College and Dayanand Women's Training College to the State Government.
However, DAV (PG) College Principal Dr Devendra Bhasin said that the students protesting against management’s decision on new university should read Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) guidelines to understand that RUSA does not promote privatisation of education but students’ admission in the college will not exceed 12, 000. It may be mentioned here that around 30, 000 students are enrolled in DAV (PG) College.
Bhasin said that RUSA empowers college for academic autonomy. The objective of RUSA is to attain higher levels of access, equity and excellence in the State higher education system with greater efficiency, transparency, accountability and responsiveness. Under the scheme, funding will be provided for Government aided institutions for permitted activities in the ratio of 50:50 based on certain norms and parameters but in the memorandum submitted to the State Government, the college management stated that the university building and other infrastructure in these colleges should be built under RUSA and funds should be released in the ratio of 90:10 between the Central and State Governments.
The service condition of college teaching and non-teaching staff should remain the same and Government should fix college fee. Meanwhile, the members of various students unions in DAV (PG) College and DBS (PG) College assembled at college campus and shouted anti management slogans demanding withdrawal of management’s decision.
In his address, Students Federation of India district president Abhishekh Bhandari alleged that poor students of the state will not be able to complete their higher education if this college becomes private college. "In view of students’ interests, we have decided to protest against formation of new university comprising cluster of colleges. The new university would lead to privatisation of education in the college," he said.
ABVP member Anshul Chawla alleged that the college decision was influenced by the profit motive. "A buddhi shuddhi yagya will be performed at the DAV (PG) College campus on Saturday and we will appeal the management to withdraw decision on formation of new university," he said. Due to nominal college fee and tuition fee, around 30, 000 students from across Uttarakhand attend the DAV (PG) College. After formation of new university, around 12, 000 students will be allowed to enroll themselves here which has made the student fraternity concerned about the future.